Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-14
WEDNESDAY. ..SEPT'R II, 1887.
The Centenniel-The Constitution.

The Centennisl-The Constitution.
This week, in Philadelphia, the cen
tennial of the adoption of the Constitu-
ton Of the United States will be appro-
priaiely celebrated. Such a commence
ration is most fit and praiseworthy.
From the ratification of the Constitu-
ton 10y nine of the States came the
Union, the Federal Government of the
States united 10y this voluntary and con-
current compact. Sir JAMES MAcKN-
TOsH, in "Vindicie Gallice," or his
defence Of the French Revolution "
against the accusations of EDMUND
BUBKE, used this language: 1.-The
authors of her Constitution " the Con-
stitution of the United States) "have
constructed a great permanent expert
mental answer to the sophisms and
declarations Of the detractors of liber-
ty." He further affirmed that France,
In her regenerating labors, was in
debted "to the juvenile vigor and free
dom Of the New World-where the
human mind was unincumbered with
the vast mass of usage and prejudice
which so many ages of ignorance had
accumulated to load and deforIn society
in Europe" Mir. GLADSTONE, in his
article "Kin Beyond the Sea" paid,
several years ago, like tribute to the
originality and excellence of our or
ganic law.
1t would have been well to have had
public meetings in every town and
neighborhood TO do justice to the pa
triots who framed the Constitution and
to indoctrinate the people with the
fundamental principles of our repre-
sentive constitutional federal republic
1t is TO be regretted that our own State,
by public and private action, has not
made a grand Jcte day of this anniver-
sary. The convention, which met in
Philadelphia, and organized with quo
rum on the 18th of May, 1877, originated
from Virginia. Her delegates took the
initiative in proposing form of gov
eminent, were active in giving form
and finish to the work, and her most
illustrious son presided over the con-
vention and was the first President of
the Union and most influential in start
ing tie country on its boundless career
of independence and prosperity.
Such has been the condition of af-
fans since 1860 that fresh study OF
the Constitution and a revival OF its
principles have become an imperative
necessity. The exigencies of war, re-
construction, and self-preservation have
app arently justified usurpations OF
power and strained constructions OF the
written compact between the States.
Alterations and CANCELLATIONS of feeling
between the sections have had ten
dCncy to make public men ignore or
deraIt from limitations and restrictions,
and il has been too common to regard
the Constitution as an effete thing be-
cause OF the frequent and gross violations
of it. A constitution, however often
violated, is not necessarily abolished
Notifications of the instrument are not
legitimate methods Of amendment and
do not destroy vitality. We have need
TO betake ourselves to profounder
study and better understanding of the
principles of our Government and to
give all needed energies for its purifi
cation and restoration.
Some OF our publicists and states
men have yentured TO express a pre-
ference for the unwritten Constitution
over tie written, and to contrast our
methods unfavorably with those which
prevail in England. These hasty
judgments fail 10 take into account the
immense benefits which have accrued
from well.defned divisions Of depart
menis end accurate limitations OF
granted powers. and the great mis-
chiefs which result inevitably from the
onnipotence OF the legislature. Sc
iious and deplorable as have been the
departures from the grants and prohi-
bitiors OF the Constitution, yet the
osth to support, the constant reference
to it IN debate, the preliminary ques-
ton OF constitutional competency
which eonironts every legislature and
every court, have been guarantees
aef inst oppression and injustice and
assumptions which do not exist in gov
erbments where discretion is the sole
rule Of night and Of power.
A better understanding OF the Con-
aiiution win give clearer and juster
iceas OF the co-equality Of the States
end OF their relation to the General
Government. However home rule
nay be resisted by Tory Government
in England, here it is the basis OF free
Com, prosperity, and unity. The
sepmsteness and equality Of the States
under q common central government
are OF the essence of our free and re-
publican institutions. As political or
Ranisms. New York, Rhode Island, Ohio,
Florida, Nevada, stand on o footing
OF absolute equality. The "new States,'
al, from Kentucky. the frst-born,
down to the last taking its position in
ibe sistefhood, ore inrights, privileges,
prerogatiycs. equal to any Of the origi-
nal thirteen. The fact Of antedsting
the Union, Of participating in the
framing OF the Government, OF ratiiy-
ing tho Constitution, gives no supe-
1ioriiy. Precedence In time gives no
precedence Ia rank or right. Kansas
and Nebraska are not mere provincial |
municipalities dependent on Congress,
and should no more favor centraliza-
iicn thar Virginia and South Carolina
Cso1nizsd ialo Territories by acts q